98pts James Suckling

Super classic Brunello from a classic vintage, being released now. The perfume to this is really something, with cherries, flowers, lead pencil and light hints of graphite. Then it moves to raspberries and black cherries with some sandalwood shavings. You just want to smell it. Clear and transparent. Full-bodied with very fine and succinct tannins that fill the mouth and show super tension and form. Extremely long and structured. Beautiful now, but this will age for decades ahead. Drink or hold.

97pts Wine Spectator

Packed with vibrant cherry, strawberry, rose, mineral and tobacco aromas and flavors, this red is racy and pure, with a superb aftertaste. Defined by its bracing acidity and precise fruit flavors, this still has some tannins to resolve. So youthful and fresh, it feels like this has hardly budged in its evolution. Best from 2027 through 2045.

96pts Wine Enthusiast

The nose is primarily savory, with aromas of old leather, dirt and mixed spices, like a general store in the Old West with cherry and licorice candy in bins. The palate is more fruit-forward, with notes of cherries and figs, with currents of coffee and sambuca mingling to create a subtle sense of edginess. Tannins and acid oversee affairs without intruding, like a good party host.

96pts Decanter

The epitome of a true Riserva, Col d'Orcia’s just-released 2016 Poggio al Vento has brilliantly endured long ageing in both cask and bottle. It is only just coming into its own, and in fact, it should continue to develop leisurely and captivatingly for many years. As it sheds chestnut, flint and tobacco nuances, a heady bouquet of exotic potpourri and dried Mediterranean herbs emerges. The palate is laden with red summer berries, while long, textured tannins flex their commanding muscles but remain classy. With all the depth and detail that distinguishes 2016, this filled me with nostalgia for that glorious vintage.

95pts Jeb Dunnuck

A youthful, saturated bright red, the 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva Poggio Al Vento has a sunny and introverted personality that draws you into its notes of kirsch, wild sweet herbs, sweet tobacco, leather, and cedar. Full-bodied, it has rich tannins, retains good freshness, and does not feel heavy. Rather light on its feet, it has a clean finish with notes of orange pith and a chalky texture. I would give this another year or two and drink over the following 10 years.

95pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The organic Col d'Orcia 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento (in a medium-heavy glass bottle) is quite beautiful, truth be told, with a unique sense of direct power, medium-rich texture and evolved fruit. This Riserva takes us back in time to one of the most successful vintages in Montalcino history. The bouquet is distinguished by dried fruit, rose potpourri and roasted chestnut husk. The tannins are resolved, and the wine ends on a softly silky note.

Tasting Notes

Intense ruby red color. Rich bouquet, complex and elegant, made up by hints of cherry and small red ripe fruits, perfectly combined with spicy aromas and hints of oak from the long stay in the wood. Well-structured on the palate, rich and full,  the powerful and ripe tannins are supported by a pleasant freshness. Excellent long-lasting and elegant aftertaste in accordance with the bouquet.

About the Wine

In the heart of the estate, half way up the hill that overlooks the Orcia River, on a ridge gently sloping towards the South you can find the Poggio al Vento vineyard. The name literally means “windy hill” and this aspect in conjunction with the very unique soil composition of the area produce the exceptional Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento. The powerful yet elegant tannins delivered in the wines by this vineyard require a 4 year long aging in the traditional large oak barrels. After bottling the wine requires a further aging of 3 years before being presented to the market. Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is produced only in the best vintages and represents one of the highest expressions of pure Sangiovese to be found in Montalcino.

The essence and reason for the fame of Brunello di Montalcino lies in its longevity, the capacity to improve with time and deliver ethereal sensations to wine lovers all over the world. Col d’Orcia has always protected the traditions of Brunello production -- well before the debate between traditionalist and modernists even started.

In 1982, the first vintage of the single vineyard Poggio al Vento Brunello di Montalcino Riserva was aged in large barrels.  It soon became apparent that only a slow, long maturation could do justice to the powerful tannins drawn from the sandy, limestone rich soil of this vineyard known as “windy ridge.” The use of the large Slavonian and French oak barrels allows the wine  to breathe, feel the passing of the seasons, mature, and develop in the silent, dark freshness of the cellar. This invaluable lesson from our forefathers is embraced by Col d’Orcia. Further time in bottle completes the journey required for any traditional Brunello to show its true character and reveal the reasons why it has become among the most famous and sought after wines from Italy.

Winery Notes

As one of the original estates of Montalcino and now the largest certified organic estate in Tuscany, Col d’Orcia is a leader in Brunello di Montalcino, helping to define and promote one of Italy’s most prestigious wine regions. Tradition, integrity and sustainability are the pillars of the estate, whose classic style wines are celebrated all over the world.

Situated on the outskirts of the medieval hilltop village of Montalcino in Tuscany’s Siena province, the estate has a rich winemaking history that dates back to the 1700s. In 1973, the estate was purchased by the Cinzano family, who markedly increased the vineyard holdings. They are now the third largest owner of Brunello vineyards in Montalcino. Proudly defined as an ‘organic island,’ Col d’Orcia is committed to maintaining the natural environment in which it operates and has, for many years, employed organic farming practices. The entire estate includes vineyards, gardens, olive groves, tobacco and wheat fields, which are all farmed following exclusively organic agricultural practices. In 2010, the estate underwent the organic farming certification process and is now the largest certified organic wine producing farm in all of Tuscany.

Organic